. >> talks to avoid a fiscal cliff appeared to have hit the skids. the skicliff is tax hikes cominn january 1st. it could send us back into recession. president obama and congressional republicans blocking a deal to avoid an economic catastrophe. marco rubio addressing the public says it does nothing to solve the long-term problem of a ballooning national debt. >> tax increases will not solve our debt only economic growth will help control the debt. house republicans have a democratic bill that already passed the senate. the republican alternative will not work. >> the senate has already done their part. now we are waiting for republicans in the house to do the same thing. but so far they have put forward an unbalanced plan that lowers the rates for the wealthiest americans. >> the tax hikes on americans. they say voters made it clear when he was elected. >> he is a democrat. former florida governor carlie fritz making it official after two years as an independent. he's seen as a candidate former challenger republican rick scott in 2014. we have a me